New Endings - And Beginnings (my so-called running career)

I have to share that it's been particularly hard writing this blog over the past several months.  As I know I've said on numerous occasions, the purpose of doing a blog was connecting some of my personal running experiences with the values of Teens Run Westchester:

• Goal Setting
• Commitment to Achievement
• Positive Youth Development
• Healthy Lifestyles

It's been hard to share experiences because- and I will stick with my mantra of this being a whine free zone - I really haven't been able to experience running without resulting pains (I'm stopping with descriptives there).

What I will share is that I went to a well respected sports therapist yesterday - an excellent professional who cares for high profile clients like several of our NY sports teams, elite marathon runners - as well as committed amateurs such as myself.  It took him about 7 minutes of tests to diagnose me and his comment was that "if I don't want to end up eventually in a wheelchair, I should find another sport".   In other words, NO MORE RUNNING - he added that this is what a smart person would do.

Me, being me, I had to ask "just supposing I wanted to be stupid and try running".  He said if that's what you want to do, make sure you have plenty of money and find someone in Toronto that can take care of you often - cause you'll need it.  And eventually you'll end up in a wheelchair.  So, as much as my wife loves me, I don't think that's what she was envisioning for our future.  It's official.  My running days are over.  Writing this is for some reason, helping me.  Not sure why - but it is.

So, what next?  Well, the good doctors recommendation was two sessions of extremely enjoyable (well, not exactly) therapy where they got all the "junk" out of my calves and feet and then we'll see.  For now, no weight bearing exercise - not even out of the saddle spinning - so guess I'll be getting lots of reading done on the stationary bike.  And I guess I'll be getting ripped up top (or not) as I can do upper body strength training.  I'm even off my new love hockey until my feet are back to being able to walk - forget run -without pain.   All in all, lots of fun!

Seriously, I was initially crushed but I have to look at it some fresh ways.  Everything has it's place and time - I had mine and made the most of it.  Most of all, I feel gratified that it inspired me to try to share running as a teacher to help others - teens - learn from the experience.

I guess I could hypothesize that if I hadn't run so often and so much, I would have had more time running.  But for better or worse, that's not the way I do things.  When I love it, I love it.  It's sort of the way I always look at it when I fall in love with a great song, comedy routine or television show (i.e. watching Seinfeld reruns.   I can and will listen to it endlessly until I don't enjoy it and I'm tired of it.  People have often asked why not just do it (the song, the show) occasionally?  My feeling is capture it for all its worth and when you're done, you're done.   I guess in this case, running was done with me.

And after therapy?  As I mentioned, hopefully back to hockey which has and I'm sure will continue to be an exciting challenge for me.  But I will definitely be on the hunt for some new form of exercise that I can throw myself into - the natural seems to be biking.  I've found it particularly hard to bike in Yonkers and Westchester so perhaps the move to Toronto will be the open door there.  If you're reading this and have any suggestions, please share away.

In keeping with the theme of this blog, what's the lesson here?  There are several?

1) Running is truly a mind over body spirit.  I say with modesty that over the past six years, I was able to run 11 marathons and (I think) 16 half marathons with, as my doctor noted, all the wrong connections where it counts.

2) You have a choice to make when you take on something.  Moderation or intensity.  There are arguments for both.   As I said, I threw myself into running and have no regrets.  At the same time, if its right for you to hold back - and on occasions it is -do so.  Your choice.

3) Kind of a cliche but endings are beginnings.  Yes I'm bummed.  Yes I'm going to sell all my running shoes on ebay just to get them out of the house so I don't have to look at them.   But I'm a little excited.  I'm a little excited thinking about finding some new things to challenge me both physically and mentally.  And I'll try to be a little bit patient - but not totally sure about how that will work!

Finally, what does this mean for my involvement in Teens Run Westchester?  It changes absolutely nothing about my commitment to being a part of what I would call TRW 2 - the next generation of TRW.  While I may not be able to be out there on the runs, I will cheer, pour water, write grants and do whatever I can to keep moving forward.

See you out there -

Accentuate the Positive - running, life, etc etc.

Accentuate the positive.  That's a phrase that keeps coming into my head these days.  It's been an interesting and sometimes challenging couple of weeks for me.  As I tend to be pretty open and honest - what's the point of being anything, but, I do like to use this blog to share and sometimes reflect on changes in my life.   And as always, find some correlations or takeaways that are relevant to Teens Run Westchester.

Well, let's start with my - what I'm starting to call - my personal running journey.  Before, it just used to be my running.  But now that I'm in the place of having to rediscover what works and what doesn't, I consider myself on a new journey that may just encompass my entire life.  As I've explained to a few people in my life who don't really understand why I haven't just taken up biking, I've been (what I like to call) alternatively inspired by some folks.  I won't name any names because it's totally unimportant.  What I will say is that my aim is to never be that person who you see and when you talk about running says "oh, I used to do that but then on and on (knees, feet etc) happened.  Or that are constantly complaining about it.  I know I've said it before but it does bother me to look at some old posts and see my whining about this or that.  I've decided I'm taking the personal journey and long view approach.  I'm trying many things and thinking of myself as a lifelong runner that may be "stopped at port" or going slow around the harbor for a bit.  I have no idea whatsoever why I'm using these marine type of metaphors.  But whatever.

Point being, accentuate the positive.  Over the last four days, I've run ever other day for slightly increasing distances.   Nothing super long but just good solid runs of 40 than 45 minutes.  Being in Canada, hard to say whether I have to do more adjusting the cold or my newer style of running.  Speaking of which, my focus has been on running with the Chi Running technique that I worked on with my instructor.    And interestingly, every time I go out, I go out with the practiced mindset of form over speed - and oddly, my speed while never a big bragging point, has picked up and been respectable.

The other thing that's been intriguing is how much you notice things when you, well, want to notice them.  My instructor had pointed out that I didn't do much with my arms.  So, as a result, I've been really focused on using more of an arm swing as I run.  At the same time, I've been equally focused on an upright posture which allows for energy flow, less front of foot running and a more natural mid foot strike.  Bottom line, I've felt better towards the ends of these runs than even starting.  Really cool.  Not a negative but I've also been advised to "lose the Newtons", shoes I'm sure I've written about due to my devotion to them over the last three years.  While I will continue to pledge my respect and admiration for having supported me through my last 8 marathons and 10 halfs (or something like that), I do recognize that I've formed a dependence on them.  Being out yesterday on a somewhat minimalist but sill well cushioned pair of Asic Gel-lyte 33 felt distinctively different- but very good by the end.  Oh well, fire sale on my many pair of Newtons - get ready ebay community!

So, parallels?  Well, I - or I should say my wife and I have embarked on yet another step along a journey - that being our move to Toronto.  This weekend, we moved into a great place in an area called Summerhill in Toronto.  Adjustments here too?  Plenty but exciting and forward moving ones.  It's always amazing - and kind of a special and good uncomfortable - when you need to get used to a new home, city and neighborhood (yep, all at once!).  Sometimes, its the simplicity of where you store your socks, the place you get coffee and -- even where you do your running.   And certainly the weather when you do that running!  But it's an exciting adventure and that's certainly the way to look at it.  No doubt, your socks may not all fit in the space, the coffee place will be closed that second time you go there (gotta get those hours down!) and you'll freeze your hands off because you didn't wear warm enough gloves (happened Saturday) but it's all an exciting part of starting over and moving forward.

Lesson - easy.  Like I said, look at the positives and keep the negatives to your sleeping moments.  In other words, why bother.  And don't be afraid of changes and the bumps and stumbles along the way.  So many others have said this better and with more grace but it really is a cool journey when you can learn to appreciate the bumps and stumbles along the way.  It makes getting up that much more fun!